Counterweighted Free-Floating Helium Balloon

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a kit that provides one or more counterweights, one or more counterweight containers, and a fastener adapted to attach the counterweight and counterweight container to the balloon. The counterweight container could be a plastic pipette, small rubber duck, plastic bottle, or something else. The fastener could be an adhesive, hook, or something else. A balloon could also be included in the kit. The counterweight container can be filled with any weight, such as water, and then attached to the helium balloon to balance the rise of the balloon. The weight can be adjusted by the addition or removal of water from the pipette. This counterweight allows for the balloon to be balanced at the desired height, free-floating, and desirable for many different applications.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Helium balloons have been used greatly in decorations for many years, tocelebrate many different events from birthdays to weddings and evenholidays. These balloons can be selected in varying size, shapes,colors, and styles at many variety and department stores. They come withan attached string to hold the balloons down and prevent them fromflying away.

However, these standard helium balloons have many disadvantages,including, but not limited to:

-   -   The helium balloon tends to fly away.    -   The helium balloon must be attached to something to anchor the        balloon such as a paperweight or ribbon tethered to a heavy        object.    -   Since the balloon must be tied down, the anchor leads to        immobility of the balloon and limits its range of movement.    -   Once the helium balloon is anchored, it will rise to the ceiling        as much as possible and stay at that same height.    -   The string of the balloon can ruin the elegant look of the        decorations and can look messy when tied down.

Our invention is the concept to balance the rise of the helium balloonto make it free-floating using a counterweight. This can be achievedthrough many different means, such as paper, weight, or liquids. Withour invention, the balloon can be free floating at any height. Thecounterweight is easily controllable to a high degree of precision. Thisallows the balloon's rise to be limited.

The advantages of our invention include:

-   -   A free-floating balloon can slowly move through a room adding an        element of movement to otherwise stationary decorations.    -   Our invention removes the need for a string to hold the balloon        down. This mitigates any possible hazards from balloon strings        to young children or animals.    -   A free floating balloon is amusing to play with and allows for        interaction.

Some applications of our invention include, but are not limited to:

-   -   Decorative free-floating balloons for events    -   Room decorations. Example: free-floating blimps and hot air        balloons for nursery    -   Education tools. Example: free-floating planets to teach        students about the solar system    -   Sensory toys for the handicapped, special needs, elderly and        children    -   Toy for young children and toddlers    -   Indoor balloon volleyball for children    -   Dog toy

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Our invention is the concept to balance the rise of the helium balloonto make it free-floating using a counterweight. This invention removesthe need for a string to hold down a helium balloon. It also allows oneto balance the balloon just the right amount to make it free-floating.

The counterweight can be created using many different weights, forexample, paper, metal, and liquids can all act as a weight. Thecounterweight can also be in the form of a decorative toy or rubber toy,such as a small rubber duck or plastic parachuter. Both of thesealternative counterweights can be attached to the balloon using hooks,adhesives, or by any other means. Our invention encompasses all methodsof producing a counterweight for a helium balloon in order to balance itand make it free-floating. One such mechanism is to use a small plasticpipette or bottle filled with water to offset the rise of the balloon.

The pipette/bottle is meant to be filled with water to add weight to theballoon. Water can be added and removed as needed to balance the balloonat a certain height. The spout of the pipette/bottle is very small inorder to allow small increments of water out at a time. This allows fora drop level of precision to create just the right amount ofcounterweight to stall the rise of the balloon. This will allow theballoon to hover at the desired height without sinking to the ground orrising to the ceiling. The pipette/bottle can be emptied and refilled asmany times as wished. An adhesive and/or velcro is then used to stickthe bottle to the neck of the balloon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

1. FIG. 1 depicts a decorative balloon with one method of holding acounterweight—a plastic bottle. The plastic bottle can be inserted intothe balloon or attached with an adhesive or a hook.

2. FIG. 2 depicts a balloon with one method of holding acounterweight—an electronic device that holds water and preciselymeasures the rise of the balloon and the weight of counterweight neededto balance out the balloon.

3. FIG. 3 depicts a decorative balloon with one method of containing acounterweight—a plastic pipette with a round shape to hold the water orother form of liquid counterweight.

4. FIG. 4 depicts a balloon with one method of containing acounterweight—a plastic pipette with an elongated oval shape to hold thewater or other form of liquid counterweight.

5. FIG. 5 depicts a decorative balloon with one method of retaining acounterweight—a plastic pipette with a heart shape to hold the water orother form of liquid counterweight.

6. FIG. 6 depicts a balloon with one method of retaining acounterweight—a plastic pipette with a star shape to hold the water orother form of liquid counterweight.

7. FIG. 7 depicts a decorative balloon with one method of encompassing acounterweight—a plastic pipette with a elongated oval shape to hold thewater or other form of liquid counterweight.

8. FIG. 8 depicts a decorative balloon with one method of encompassing acounterweight—a small bottle to hold the water or other form ofcounterweight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention to counterweight a helium balloon can be achieved throughmany different physical mechanisms. One method consists of a smallplastic bottle or pipette with an adhesive meant to attach the bottle tothe balloon. Water must be expelled in small increments to find thecorrect balance for the balloon allowing it to float in place.

The small plastic bottle is attached to the balloon spout facingupwards. The cap can be detached in order to fill the bottle with water.To add water into the bottle, the bottle must be squeezed, placed into abowl of water, and released. Once the desired balance has been reached,the cap can be reapplied tightly to prevent any leakage of water.

The plastic pipette approximately weighs less than 4 grams. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 the pipette can be attached to the balloon with the spoutfacing up. This will ensure that if accidentally squeezed, only air willescape the pipette.

A pipette or small tipped bottle allows water to be removedincrementally as it only releases one drop of water at a time ifsqueezed delicately.

The adhesive is in the form of double sided tape, velcro, or anotherform of adhesive. To stick the bottle or pipette onto the balloon, onewould peel one side of the tape and stick it to the dry side of thebottle. Then, one would peel the other side and stick it to the neckportion of the helium balloon. The bottle or pipette can be refilled andemptied multiple times until the balloon has deflated.

Now the balloon can float freely without restriction at an optimalbalance point. If necessary, the counterweight can be adjusted as neededwith the addition or removal of water from the bottle or pipette.

1. A balloon counterweight apparatus compromising: a. a counterweight;b. a counterweight container designed to precisely adjust the effect ofsaid counterweight; c. and a counterweight fastener designed to attachthe said counterweight container to said balloon.
 2. A ballooncounterweight apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said counterweightcompromises a liquid or material used to create weight to offset therise of a balloon.
 3. A balloon counterweight apparatus as in claim 1wherein said counterweight container compromises a plastic pipette,bottle, or rubber toy used to hold the said counterweight at a preciselevel of control to remove excess weight or recursively add additionalweight.
 4. A balloon counterweight apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidcounterweight fastener compromises an adhesive, hook, or hook and loopfastener to connect the counterweight and/or container to the balloon.5. A method of making a free-floating balanced counterweighted ballooncompromising: a. forming an accurate counterweight to the rise of theballoon; b. attaching the counterweight and/or container to the balloon;c. recursively resetting the weight of the counterweight to re-balancethe rise of the balloon.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the formingan accurate counterweight and recursively resetting the counterweightcompromises adjusting the weight of the counterweight substance byadding more of the counterweight substance or removing some of thecounterweight substance to precisely balance the rise of the balloon.